Here’s a great idea! Donate a copy of “Island
Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”, an illustrated heart-warming story about
family and resilience, to your favourite school or library! I’m sure they would
be delighted to receive your gift. “Island Surprise” is available in paperback and
hardcover.
Buy from Amazon or if you're on the island get it from Logos Harbour Bay, and if you contact me, I would be delighted to autograph it for you!
A GARDEN VIEW OF “ISLAND SURPRISE: A BAHAMIAN
ADVENTURE”!
From a happy U.S. buyer of “Island Surprise: A
Bahamian Adventure”: “Very much enjoyed reading your children’s book!”
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” was Ranked in
Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers in Elementary School Books in Australia shortly
after its release.
The book is available on Amazon at ISLAND SURPRISE in
paperback, hardcover and as an eBook.
Animated videos of “Island Surprise: A Bahamian
Adventure” (the story and illustrations) are at the foot of the Amazon book product
pages - PAPERBACK AND HARDCOVER.
AND
Video of Lower Deadman’s Cay (Long Island, Bahamas) students
giving reviews of “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” that they read with their
4th grade teacher Mrs. Paula Higgs-Knowles, at the foot of the
Amazon product page - KINDLE.
If you don't have a Kindle, you can still read Kindle
e-books by just downloading the free Kindle app at ABOUT KINDLE APP for most major smart
phones, tablets and computers.
Enjoy!
Erskine and Fay had the honour Tuesday evening of
meeting His Excellency Herschel Walker, Ambassador of the United States to the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas, and his wife, Mrs. Julie Walker, for a second time, and
Ambassador Walker bought three copies of Fay's illustrated children's book
"Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure"!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” was Ranked in
Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers in Elementary School Books in Australia shortly
after its release.
It is available on Amazon at ISLAND SURPRISE in
paperback, hardcover and as an eBook.
60 years ago, July 1st 1966, Erskine and I were married in St Anne's Anglican Church, Fox Hill, Nassau, Bahamas.
The priest, Father King, told me he didn't believe in a bride being late for her wedding so he wouldn't marry us if I was late! Imagine how frantic I was when the limousine Erskine had booked for me and the Father Giver, Erskine's boss Mr Ashton, didn't turn up for me on time!
Fortunately, a good friend of Erskine's, Levi Wilson, stopped by to see if I needed any help. I told him just get me to the church on time please!
We sped down Village Road in Levi's beat up old car, along the Eastern Road, with me in full bridal attire, brown paper packages in the back and Levi wearing an old straw hat! Bystanders stood on the side of the road, staring at the spectacle, aghast!
I also have a photo of me picking up my skirts and running into the church! Luckily, I got there in time!
It was a very hot day and there was no air conditioning in the church. Erskine passed his crisp white handkerchief around between him, the priest and best man/best friend George Cartwright, to wipe their brows! I had just had the front of my long hair cut into bangs - big mistake!
But It was a lovely wedding with special guests from out of town - my mother, grandmother and Erskine's parents in attendance. It wasn't even dampened by the sight of the tardy limousine driver waving his fist at us as we exited the church, claiming we had told him the wrong time for my pick up!
Afterwards we drove down Bay Street in a motorcade with horns blaring, heading to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre for the Reception. That evening we would be driven to the airport for our honeymoon flight to Jamaica, with a first-class upgrade courtesy of British Airways employee and friend of Erskine's, Jerome Darville.
Look out for the final (eighth) episode of our series "Secrets to a Successful Relationship" (tiktok and youtube - youngheartsforever)! For the seven previous episodes - Part One (How we met); Part Two (How we got serious); Part Three (How we got more serious); Part Four (The Engagement); Part Five (The Wedding Preparation); Part Six (The Wedding); and Part Seven (The Honeymoon), look for the red rose on the videos!
Fay Knowles reminisces about the Dolphin Hotel, the first place she stayed in when she arrived in Nassau, Bahamas, in 1965.
She arrived in Nassau in the dark of the night after travelling from Toronto, Canada, where she had been working, down to Miami on a Greyhound coach and flying across to Nassau.
She sat at the hotel bar, feeling very much the world traveller, then retired to her hotel room, where she was disappointed to hear the BBC news on the radio! She had thought she was in a foreign country.
The next morning she pulled back the drapes and when she saw the bright sunny day, palm trees and white beach across the road, and heard the babble of voices from locals, she realized she really was in a foreign country!
Operating during the mid-20th century, the original Nassau Dolphin Hotel was a popular beach-facing resort located on the corner of Nassau Street and West Bay Street.
#DolphinHotelNassau
#oldNassauHotels
#downtownNassauBahamas
Here, twin brothers Bailey and Braxton Russell are
asked by Mrs. Paula Higgs-Knowles, their Fourth Grade teacher at Lower
Deadman’s Cay Primary School, Long Island, Bahamas, to give reviews of “Island
Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” on the last day of term. “Island Surprise” had
been a book project over several classroom sessions.
“Unfortunately,” Mrs. Higgs-Knowles says, “when we
took the video of the boys, there was a lot of background noise from people and
activity outside my classroom, as it was the end of the final day!” She told Bailey
and Braxton they reminded her of the two young brothers in “Island Surprise”,
especially as the characters Michael and Tony’s last name in the book is
Bailey!
Mrs. Higgs-Knowles says: “I had planned to do more
organized in-depth review interviews with the kids but it just got crazy at the
end of day. I will say they were all disappointed and sad to finish the book.
They were completely absorbed into the story. You definitely need to write
another one!”
“Island Surprise” was Ranked in Amazon’s Top 100 Best
Sellers in Elementary School Books in Australia shortly after its release.
Tell your friends and family this book is a MUST for
any child needing to get into the reading habit!
Action packed and heart-warming! Children will love
and learn from this fun adventure story of family togetherness, simplicity and
resilience.
About “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”: Two
young Bahamian boys are excited when their parents decide to take them to
remote Coco Plum Island, to surprise their grandparents for Easter. But they
have difficulties getting a flight and then a storm threatens to spoil all of
their plans. They eventually reach the island, but their troubles aren’t over
as they must land at an airport further away from the grandparents. The journey
south is hazardous and they run into problems on the way. They wonder if they will
ever get to their grandparents’ house!
Get your copy of "Island Surprise: A Bahamian
Adventure" on Amazon at https://mybook.to/ISLANDSURPRISE (universal
link). It is available in paperback, hardcover and as an eBook. Paperbacks are also
available locally at Logos Bookstore, Harbour Bay, Nassau, Bahamas.
After reading “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”
as a book project over several classroom sessions, Mrs. Paula Higgs-Knowles’
Fourth Grade students at Lower Deadman’s Cay Primary School, Long Island,
Bahamas, give their reviews of “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” on the
last day of term!
Mary Metcalf, Arabella Cash and Sarai Miller all
seemed to agree that the puppy’s near disaster was the highlight of the book!
Mrs. Higgs-Knowles says: “I had planned to do more
organized in-depth review interviews with the kids but it just got crazy at the
end of day. I will say they were all disappointed and sad to finish the book.
They were completely absorbed into the story. You definitely need to write
another one!”
“Island Surprise” was Ranked in Amazon’s Top 100 Best
Sellers in Elementary School Books in Australia shortly after its release.
Tell your friends and family this book is a MUST for
any child needing to get into the reading habit!
Action packed and heart-warming! Children will love
and learn from this fun adventure story of family togetherness, simplicity and
resilience.
About “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”: Two
young Bahamian boys are excited when their parents decide to take them to
remote Coco Plum Island, to surprise their grandparents for Easter. But they
have difficulties getting a flight and then a storm threatens to spoil all of
their plans. They eventually reach the island, but their troubles aren’t over
as they must land at an airport further away from the grandparents. The journey
south is hazardous and they run into problems on the way. They wonder if they
will ever get to their grandparents’ house!
Get your copy of "Island Surprise: A Bahamian
Adventure" on Amazon at ISLAND SURPRISE .
It is available in paperback, hardcover and as an eBook. Paperbacks also
available locally at Logos Bookstore, Harbour Bay, Nassau, Bahamas.
Young Amira Pratt proudly holds a copy of “Island
Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” before she jets off to Cat Island the next day
with her cousins for weeks of summer fun. Asked if she enjoyed reading this
beautifully illustrated children’s chapter book, she enthusiastically says
“Yes!”
Amira is a Prefect in Grade 5 at Eva Hilton Primary
School. She has just turned ten years old. Her grandmother Delray Pratt (who
nicknamed her “Mimi”) bought “Island Surprise” for her as she saw how excited
she was about the book. Amira’s parents are Ashley Pratt and Dexter Kerr.
“Island Surprise” is a heart-warming adventure story
about family, courage and resilience. In “Island Surprise” two young Bahamian
brothers face flight issues, a storm, and a hazardous journey on their way to
surprise their grandparents on imaginary Coco Plum Island. Action packed,
children will love and learn from this fun story.
Shortly after being released, “Island Surprise” was
ranked in Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers in Elementary School books in
Australia!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available
on Amazon at ISLAND SURPRISE
in paperback, hardcover and as an eBook. Paperbacks can also be purchased at
Logos Bookstore, Harbour Bay, Nassau.
“From Coco Plum Lane to Coco Plum Island”! Hydie
Knowles and her family once lived on Coco Plum Lane, Seabreeze Estates, Nassau,
Bahamas! And in “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”, two young boys head to
Coco Plum Island with their parents to surprise their grandparents for Easter!
Hydie is seen here with her copy of Island Surprise
and me! She asked me to inscribe my children’s book to “The Knowles Family, who
once resided on Coco Plum Lane”! I hope they are all enjoying my heart-warming
adventure story about family, courage and resilience!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available
on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and as an eBook. Shortly after its release,
"Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure" was Ranked in Amazon's Top
100 Best Sellers in Elementary School books in Australia!
Hydie is a Sustainable Development Goals Officer
working collaboratively to report and accelerate the country’s awareness and
development towards the SDG’s. During her time in sustainability, she has
acquired advanced open water diver and certified board professional project
management certifications in addition to research and project consultancy
experience. In her spare time, she enjoys going on adventures, spending time with
loved ones, painting masterpieces, trying new foods, watching movies and
reading books. The genesis of her passion for sustainable living began right at
our Bahamian coral reefs, and the rest is history. Her bio says you don’t have
to be a tree hugger to contribute to sustainable development initiatives. In
fact, pilots, engineers, doctors, social workers, judges, architects all can
play a role too.
Hydie Knowles is also a
National Youth Parliamentarian as well as a Disabilities Advocate.
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available
on Amazon at ISLAND SURPRISE: A BAHAMIAN ADVENTURE
Author’s Tip: This is my new Amazon Author bio, which
is connected to all of my seven books on Amazon. Amazon recommends that authors
do not use more than 1,000 characters for their bios. My bio was previously way
over that amount, so I greatly reduced it! I think it makes it look neater,
don’t you think?
Note: I added that I do not use AI for any of my
writing, as there is so much of that going on now!
Here’s a great idea! Donate a copy of “Island
Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”, an illustrated heart-warming story about
family and resilience, to your favourite school or library! I’m sure they would
be delighted to receive your gift. “Island Surprise” is available in paperback and
hardcover. Buy on Amazon or at Logos Harbour Bay, Nassau, and if you contact me, I would
be delighted to autograph it for you!
I’ve been absolutely thrilled by the wonderful
feedback for my children’s book, “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure!”
A huge thank you to everyone who has already taken the
time to leave a review — it truly helps new readers discover the book.
If your child has just finished reading it, I’d be so
grateful if you could share your thoughts or even a quick star rating on Amazon
or Goodreads. Your support means the world!
“Island Surprise” is available on Amazon in paperback,
hardcover, and eBook formats here:
Six-year-old River from Wales, U.K., was so inspired
by “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” by Fay Knowles that she decided to
write a book herself! Here she is “dictating” to her father what to type.
Shortly after its release, "Island Surprise"
was Ranked in Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers in Elementary School books in
Australia! It's a heart-warming adventure story about family, courage and
resilience.
This beautifully illustrated chapter book is primarily
suitable for ages 5 to 10, but it may also be enjoyed by younger or older
readers who are captivated by imaginative stories. Two young Bahamian brothers
face flight issues, a storm, and a hazardous journey on their way to surprise
their grandparents on Coco Plum Island. Action packed, children will love and
learn from this fun story.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON IN PAPERBACK, HARDCOVER AND AS AN E-BOOK at https://mybook.to/ISLANDSURPRISE
"Brown Girl in The Ring" is a ring play song
originating many years ago in Jamaica. Jamaican poet, folklorist, actress, writer
and singer Louise Bennett-Coverley recorded “Brown Girl in The Ring” in 1957 on
an album of Children’s Jamaican Songs and Games, which was re-released by
Smithsonian Folkways in 2007 (Source: Zingzangwallawalla). Bahamian entertainer
and singer Tony McKay ("Exuma The Obeah Man") from Cat Island,
Bahamas, sang and recorded this song in 1972.
Acoustic cover by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter
Erskine Knowles from The Bahamas. Background "chorus" by Erskine’s
wife Fay. Erskine played and sang this song over many years at parties. Women
and girls would form a ring and dance. Another woman would dance in the middle
of the ring. Then they would take turns dancing in the middle.
Nine-year-old Steven C. Pierre, a student of Eva
Hilton Primary School, Nassau, Bahamas, reads “Island Surprise: A Bahamian
Adventure” to his family!
Shortly after its release, “Island Surprise: A
Bahamian Adventure” by Fay Knowles was ranked in Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers
in Elementary School books in Australia. This beautifully illustrated
children’s adventure story of family, simplicity and resilience is available on
Amazon in paperback, hardcover and as an eBook at ISLAND SUPRISE
Ten-year-old Demi Bowe proudly holds her copy of
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” that her father Demetri Bowe bought for
her. Demetri is a retired bank manager and Demi’s parents Demetri and Ruth D.
Bowe own and operate a business called Bold Pineapple Beauty (Ruthdbowe@gmail.com).
Excited with her new book, Demi said she was going to
read Island Surprise “over and over again”!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available
on Amazon at https://mybook.to/ISLANDSURPRISE
in paperback, hardcover and as an eBook.
Also, paperbacks can be purchased locally at Logos,
Harbour Bay.
It’s Easter-time and two young Bahamian boys Michael
and Tony can’t wait to surprise their grandparents Pa Joe and Ma Tilly on
remote Coco Plum Island with a visit, but their parents Pete and Helen have
difficulties getting a flight for the family. Then a storm threatens to spoil
all of their plans.
Beautifully brought to life with full colour
illustrations, every scene vividly captures the story's essence and magic. Action
packed and heart-warming, children will love and learn from this fun adventure
story of family togetherness, simplicity and resilience.
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available
on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and as an e-Book at ISLAND SURPRISE: A BAHAMIAN ADVENTURE
Pictured with a hardcover copy of “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” by yours truly: Eight-year-old Henry Forsyth, who was chosen at The Little Cottage Library of The Bahamas, Glinton’s, Long Island, Bahamas, to be the first to borrow this fun adventure story of family togetherness, simplicity and resilience from the library.
Susan L. Koster, who is co-founder of The Little
Cottage Library along with Jodi Maley, said: “Henry was chosen to be the first
to borrow Island Surprise as he is an avid reader and I knew he would enjoy
it!” Susan is also Director of C.R.A.B. – “Caught Reading a Book” Book Club,
which fosters a love of reading for primary school students.
Henry’s mother Lillian Forsyth said: “We surely
enjoyed reading your book. It reminded me so much of my childhood. Henry and I
read it together. Your book surely depicts life back in the 1980's on the
islands. Thank you so much for writing such an amazing book!”
What a lovely compliment from Lillian! Island Surprise
is actually set in the present day, but I intended to show children what it
used to be like on a Bahamian Family Island and to explain to them that life
can really be quite simple. Island Surprise also educates them about such
island occupations as grinding corn and shelling peas!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available
on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and as an e-Book at ISLAND SURPRISE: A BAHAMIAN ADVENTURE .
Paperbacks are also available locally at Logos Bookstore, Harbour Bay, Nassau,
Bahamas.
